Collingwood chief executive, Gary Pert, today described the club’s 2014 AFL fixture as a neatly balanced schedule, with its on and off field interests well considered.

“On balance, the club is pretty happy with the 2014 draw,” Pert said.

“A number of aspects of it stand out.

“Again we have only five interstate matches, which allows us to play 14 games at the MCG. This will include home game blockbusters against Geelong, Essendon on ANZAC Day, Carlton and Hawthorn.

“With seven of the last 10 rounds at the MCG, this gives the team great preparation leading into the finals.

Add Collingwood's 2014 home and away fixture to your calendar now.

“It is exciting to feature in two new initiatives, Thursday and Sunday night football. Playing in Adelaide, at the remodeled Adelaide Oval, on Thursday evening, after our first bye, is an experiment we are pleased to be involved with.

“Our meeting with Carlton on a Sunday night in late June – a school holiday period - is sure to be one of the highest attended and rating matches of the season.

“Our game against Gold Coast will also be during the school holidays, which will enable as many of our fans as possible to travel to Metricon Stadium, a regular request from our supporters. This game will also give us the opportunity to spend greater time engaging with our large Queensland supporter base.

“The fixture is good from an on-field perspective but in many ways not ideal commercially, with a number of our home games not scheduled in prime time. As a club we are comfortable with that as we work with the AFL on our role to be spreading the commercial benefits of the fixture as part of the equalization strategy.

“Many clubs request to play us as the home team and our drawing power is being used to the best benefit of the game’s broadcasters and stadiums. If there was one disappointment in the fixture, it is that nine of our matches will not be shown on free-to-air television.

“Collingwood has the biggest supporter base in the country, with many of those members and fans not having access to pay-TV. We hope one day all Collingwood games will be broadcast free-to-air to allow all of our supporters to see their team every week.

“In all, we feel we have received a well balanced draw.”